Category: Furnace Repair

How to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter

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As the temperatures start to drop and winter approaches, it’s essential to ensure your furnace is in optimal condition. Preparing your furnace for the cold season can not only improve its efficiency but also help you avoid unexpected breakdowns when you need it most. In this blog post, we will discuss some key steps to take in order to prepare your furnace for winter, ensuring a warm and cozy home during those chilly days and nights.

1. Schedule a Professional Inspection

The first step in preparing your furnace for winter is to schedule a professional inspection. A licensed HVAC technician will thoroughly examine your furnace, checking for any potential issues or necessary repairs. They will clean and lubricate essential components, ensuring maximum efficiency and optimal performance. This inspection will also help identify any safety concerns, such as carbon monoxide leaks, ensuring that your furnace operates safely throughout the winter months.

2. Change the Air Filters

Clean air filters are vital for the efficiency of your furnace. Over time, filters become clogged with dust, debris, and allergens, obstructing proper airflow and reducing heating efficiency. It is recommended to change your filters every 1-3 months, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions and the amount of dust and pet dander in your home. Installing fresh, clean filters will allow your furnace to operate more efficiently and keep the air in your home clean and healthy.

3. Inspect and Clean Air Vents and Ducts

Next, inspect and clean your air vents and ducts. Remove any obstructions, such as furniture or rugs, blocking the airflow. Vacuum the vents to remove dust and debris, ensuring optimal air circulation. If you notice excessive dust buildup or mold growth in your ductwork, it may be time to schedule a professional duct cleaning service. This will not only improve your furnace’s efficiency but also enhance your indoor air quality, reducing allergens and promoting healthy respiratory function.

4. Check and Reset Your Thermostat

Ensure that your thermostat is functioning correctly by testing it before winter arrives. Set the temperature to a higher setting to ensure that your furnace starts and runs smoothly. If your thermostat is outdated or malfunctioning, consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat. These modern thermostats allow you to set different temperature schedules, saving energy when you’re away from home and ensuring optimal comfort when you return.

5. Clean Around Your Furnace

Take some time to clean the area around your furnace. Remove any clutter or debris that could obstruct airflow or pose a fire hazard. Ensure that no flammable items such as paper, cardboard, or chemicals are stored near your furnace. Keeping the area around your furnace clean and clear will help it operate safely and efficiently throughout the winter season.

6. Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Safety should always be a top priority when it comes to your home heating system. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that can be produced by malfunctioning furnaces, posing a serious health risk. Ensure that you have working carbon monoxide detectors installed near your furnace area and throughout your home. Test the detectors and replace the batteries if necessary. If your detectors are older than five years, consider replacing them to ensure optimal performance.

7. Stock Up on Fuel and Schedule Deliveries

If your furnace runs on fuel such as oil or propane, make sure you have an adequate supply for the upcoming winter season. Contact your fuel provider to schedule deliveries, ensuring that you won’t run out of fuel during the coldest days. It’s always advisable to have a backup supply of fuel in case unexpected circumstances prevent timely deliveries.

Summary

By following these steps to prepare your furnace for winter, you can ensure that your heating system operates efficiently and safely throughout the cold season. Regular maintenance, inspections, and cleaning will not only prolong the lifespan of your furnace but also provide you with a warm and comfortable home during those chilly winter months. Stay cozy and stress-free by taking care of your furnace before the cold weather arrives!

Need HVAC Services in St. Louis, MO?

Keep cool or stay warm with Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. Since 1999, Ashley Brothers have been providing residential and commercial services to the St. Louis and Jefferson County area. We specialize in the installation of new equipment, heating and cooling repair, and furnace cleaning. Craftsmanship is important, equipment choice is too. We work with only top brands like Amana, Goodman, York, and McLain. It is understandable that replacing or upgrading your equipment can be daunting. Ask us about financing. We repair all heating and cooling equipment brands. Heating and cooling repairs can happen at random, take advantage of our 24-hour emergency service. Call us today about your concerns.

Spring Maintenance Tips For Your Furnace

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Your furnace is one of the most important parts of your home HVAC system. It keeps you warm in the winter and cools in the summer, but it also needs some care and maintenance to stay in tip-top shape. Spring is a great time to give your furnace a little love and attention. Keep reading to learn some maintenance tips that will help you keep your heating and cooling services running smoothly and safely all year long.

Clean The Furnace

Spring is the best time of year to perform a full cleaning and maintenance routine for your furnace. This will help your furnace run efficiently, keep your home warmer, and prevent problems in the future. A good furnace cleaner will remove dust, debris, and sludge from your furnace’s internal components. Keeping your furnace clean and free of blockages will ensure that it runs as efficiently as possible, so you won’t have to worry about paying more for fuel than necessary or costly heating repairs.

Change The Air Filter

Changing your air filter is one of the most important preventive maintenance tasks you can do for your furnace. Not only does it improve your indoor air quality, but it can also save you money by improving the efficiency of your AC and furnace. Typically, the air filter is located between the ductwork that brings air in from the house and the internal blower unit of your furnace or air handler (it can be found inside these units too). In some cases it can be difficult to find, because of the location of the system. If you do not know where your current filter is, locate it by looking in the return air duct near the furnace or indoor unit (it can be found in basements, crawl spaces, garages and attics). There may be an access door on this duct that will allow you to remove the existing filter and replace it with a new one.

Check The Thermostat

Your thermostat is one of the most critical parts of your heating and cooling system. It should deliver trouble-free service over many years. However, like any manufactured product, it can fail and leave you without heat or cool air. Fortunately, you can test your thermostat to see if it’s working properly. To do this, find the two wires that connect it to your furnace and undo their terminals with a screwdriver. Once you’ve removed them, twist each wire together and see if the blower starts when you turn your home’s circuit breaker back on. If your thermostat doesn’t start the blower after you do this, it might be faulty and needs to be replaced. If your furnace has a manual pilot light, make sure it is lit by lighting a match over the pilot orifice while holding down the reset button for 60 seconds. If this doesn’t work, contact us for assistance.

Why Hire A Pro To Work On Your Furnace

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Furnace installation is a complicated process that requires qualified HVAC professionals to complete. If you attempt to do it yourself, you could end up causing more damage and paying for a major repair down the road. A professional is a person who performs a specific activity for gain or compensation as a permanent career. These include doctors, engineers, lawyers, architects and commissioned military officers.

They Have The Right Tools

Furnace installation is a complicated process that requires specialized tools. HVAC work often involves sheet metal and ductwork, which can be dangerous for do-it-yourselfers. A furnace must be properly hooked up to the main electrical system of the home. If you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a chance that you could cut wires and get electrocuted.

Most heating pros have the proper equipment and know how to install a furnace correctly. They also back up their work and can offer a labor warranty. Whether you’re installing a new furnace at your own house or your neighbor’s, it’s always better to leave the job to professionals.

You’ll save money in the long run, too. A professional will help you choose a furnace that’s the right size for your home, so it doesn’t waste energy and is more efficient. They’ll also perform regular maintenance checks and repairs to ensure that your new system keeps working as it should.

They Know What To Look For

If you’re looking for a professional to work on your furnace, it’s a good idea to take the time to do some research. The right HVAC pros will be able to quickly identify any problems with your system that may require immediate attention and avoid the need for more serious repairs later on.

Whether your furnace isn’t producing heat or cycling on and off frequently, check the thermostat first. Make sure it’s properly set to the correct temperature and that there’s power to it. If your thermostat is showing a low battery symbol, install new batteries immediately. A faulty thermostat is one of the most common causes of trouble with your furnace.

They Have The Experience

When you hire a professional to work on your furnace, they have the right knowledge and experience to make sure the job is done correctly. This is why they’re the best choice for this type of job. If you decide to do the job yourself, you may not know what wires to cut without getting electrocuted or how to connect ductwork to ensure that your furnace doesn’t leak dangerous gases like carbon monoxide.

Another important thing to consider is that they have liability insurance which will protect you in case anything goes wrong while they are working on your system. They also have the skills and tools to get the job done in a timely manner so that you don’t have to wait too long.

Having your furnace serviced on a regular basis will help you avoid having to worry about it not heating up during cold winter nights. It will also save you a lot of money on energy bills since your system will be running more efficiently.

They Are Just Safer

Whether you’re a new homeowner or just upgrading your old system, a professional can help you save money on furnace repair services in the long run. That’s because they know how to choose the right furnace for your home and can make recommendations that boost its energy efficiency.

They’ll also ensure that your furnace is installed correctly to keep you and your family safe. Then, they’ll perform annual inspections to identify any potential issues so you can make repairs before they get worse. Performing maintenance services on time can help you increase the lifespan of your heating system by ensuring it’s running at peak performance.

Finally, they’re covered by insurance, so they won’t be held responsible if something goes wrong while they’re working on your system. This can help you avoid costly compensation for injuries and damages. That’s why it’s always a wise idea to hire a professional HVAC company to install your furnace at home!

Top 10 Furnace Brands 2022

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The center of any home heating system is the furnace. The system ensures that the indoor environment remains warm even when temperatures are below freezing. This is why choosing a replacement or new furnace that works efficiently to heat your home without any outrageous heating bills is important. Here are the best furnaces to buy.

Top Furnace Brands

The most efficient furnaces are ones that you can rely on when temps become unstable. Here are the top 10 furnace brands in 2022.

Lennox

Lennox is known for being available in many options, such as noise-reducing features with different blower motors. Price ranges can be pretty low or pretty high depending on the actual model you purchase. They can operate quietly while running at up to 98.7 percent efficiency.

Trane

Trane gas furnaces have been around since the late 1800s. Trane is known as one of the industry’s top heating and cooling companies. They can be pretty expensive, but they have been tested for their long-lasting performance and durability. If you are looking for a furnace with an efficiency rating of up to 96 percent, Trane is an excellent investment.

Goodman

Goodman furnace products consist of solid build quality and are extremely durable. Goodman companies also offer various warranty programs that can assist in safeguarding the system again any unexpected issues. Goodman furnaces also make a great choice because they have 98 percent efficiency.

American Standard

American Standard furnaces are known for being quiet and durable. However, they may cost more than other brands but won’t require as many repairs or maintenance as other furnaces. This gas furnace significantly surpasses government efficiency standards and has a rating of 97.3 percent.

Amana

Amana is owned by Goodman and contains reliable furnaces for the home in addition to air conditioners and heat pumps if you are looking for a complete heating and cooling system. They don’t cost as much as other brands and are quiet. They also have an impressive 98 percent efficiency rating.

Bryant

If your goal is to install a furnace with a very high-efficiency rating, Bryant is the brand to turn to. Users can get up to 98.3 percent fuel efficiency and the unit boasts a hybrid heat system that can operate a heat pump and gas furnace configuration.

Carrier

Carrier is another top-rated furnace brand well-known among many professionals for manufacturing purposes. It is also a long-lasting furnace that features cooling equipment for the home. It has a 98.5 efficiency rating.

Rheem

Rheem is well known for its hot water heaters and boilers. However, they also offer top-quality furnaces that are more on the affordable side.

Ruud

Rudd furnaces are known for lasting a long time in addition to being high-quality and durable. They can heat and protect the home due to its blocked drain sensor that will turn off automatically if it detects a blockage to prevent spillage and avoid potential water damage.

Heil

Finally, Heil furnaces contain more advanced features than other brands but with budget-friendly options and more high-end furnace heating units. They have a 98 percent efficiency rating and are Wi-Fi enabled.

Benefits of Having an Energy-Efficient Furnace

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Living in St. Louis means you’re usually dealing with either hot summer heat or bracingly cold winters—and either way, your HVAC system is doing a lot of work. As any homeowner knows, the more you use that furnace or air conditioner, the higher your bill gets.

Do you really have to sacrifice comfort for lower bills? Not necessarily. If you’re interested in making the change to an energy-efficient furnace in St. Louis, MO, you may be able to stay comfortable at a much lower price. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of energy-efficient furnaces:

Now that the cold temperatures are here, there’s no better time to replace your old furnace. Whether you want to save money, be kinder to the planet or reap all the rewards of a new energy-efficient unit, it’s a smart choice for your home.

For help buying and installing a new energy-efficient furnace in your home, call the team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We know all the benefits of energy-efficient furnaces in St. Louis, MO, and can help you find the right heater for your needs.